Machine for producing cylindrical cotton bodies



F. WITSCHI ET AL 3,449,797

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING CYLINDRICAL COTTON BODIES June 1 7, 1969 FiledSept. 12, 1966 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 19-149 7 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A machine for the production of cylindrical cottonbodies, particularly suitable for producing dental tampons or the likeof high quality, comprising a separating and feeding unit for producingindividual cotton strips and a winding unit cooperating with theseparating and feeding unit for winding substantially cylindrical cottonbodies, and belt means for applying an adhesive to the surface of thecylindrical cotton bodies and for finally calibrating these bodies bypasting flat any standing fibres.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.No. 454,017, filed May 7, 1965 now Patent No. 3,382,542, in the name ofthe present inventors, and relates to improvements in a machine forproducing cotton bodies, particularly tooth plugs which are providedwith a covering for further processing.

The present invention relates particularly to improvements in the devicefor calibrating the cotton of the machine described in the said U.S.patent application. Previously, this device comprised a calibratingroller and an adhesive roller turning in a vessel containing adhesive.The two rollers were oppositely rotated with respect to one another andat diiferent r.p.m.s. The rolled cotton strips were thus led between therollers, whereby the rolled strips were calibrated and their surfacessimultaneously covered with adhesive, to slick down the projectingcotton fibers.

A disadvantage of this known device lies in the shortness of thecalibrating path, whereby a satisfactory operation cannot always beassured.

An object of the present invention is a device of this kind that hashigher output and is more dependable.

This and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, with reference to the figure of theaccompanying drawing, schematically showing a side view of the device ofthe invention for further processing or calibrating the cotton.

The winding device, the drive, and the drier of the machine aredescribed and illustrated in the said U.S. patent application.

The strips of cotton are rolled by the winding drum 1 rotating in thedirection of the arrow and passed over a pivotally suspended slide 2 tothe device for calibrating the cotton, comprising an endless belt 5passing over tWo rollers 3, 4 and moving in the direction of the arrow.The rollers are suitably mounted for rotation in the machine upright.

3,449,797 Patented June 17, 1969 The section of the belt moving awayfrom the drum 1 is covered by a guide 6 formed of a plate 7 of which theend nearest the drum 1 is hinged or otherwise adjustably mounted to varyits height. The height is adjusted by sliding a supporting arm 8 in avertical opening 9 of the machine frame. The plate is held at thedesired position by a bolt 10. The surface of the plate facing the beltis provided with a covering having a gripping quality. The other end ofthe plate is pivotally connected with a manually operated adjustingmechanism 12, which enables adjustment of the size of the clearance 13between the belt 5 and the plate. The mechanism essentially comprises aguided, vertically adjustable intermediate member 14, pivotallyconnected at its lower end to the plate 7 and at its upper end to amanually operated set screw 15. Turning of the screw 15 permits settingthe plate to a determined minimum clearance 13. The upper end of theplate remains free to move vertically.

Two driven rollers 16, 17, serving to cover the outer surface of thebelt 5 with a layer of adhesive, also forms a part of the device forcalibrating the cotton. The surface of roller 16 turns in an adhesivecontaining container 18 which may, for example, be electrically heated.

The adhesive picked up by the roller 16 is transferred to the roller 17having an absorbent surface 19 and thence to the belt 5.

The cotton strips, which are covered with an adhesive coating andfinally calibrated when passing through the clearance 13, are led to abelt 20 moving in the direction of the arrow and passing through adrier.

We claim:

1. In a machine for producing cylindrical cotton bodies comprising aseparating and feeding unit for producing individual cotton strips and awinding unit cooperating with the separating and feeding unit forWinding substantially cylindrical cotton bodies, a device forcalibrating said cylindrical cotton bodies to a substantiallypredetermined diameter including: an endless moving belt located toreceive on an upper surface thereof the said wound cylindrical cottonbodies from said winding unit, said belt being driven to convey thecotton bodies away from said winding unit; guide means covering at leastthe major portion of that length of the belt that conveys the cottonstrips, a calibrating gap being thereby formed between said guide meansand said length of the belt, and means for providing said upper beltsurface with an adhesive coating.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide meanscomprises a plate located in adjustable spacing to said belt length.

3. The combination according to claim 2, including a coating having agripping quality covering the side of said plate opposite said beltlength.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means forproviding an adhesive coating includes a vessel containing an adhesiveand at least one driven roller, a part of the surface of said rollerturning in said vessel.

5. The combination according to claim 4, including a second drivenroller located intermediate said belt and said driven roller, thesurface of said driven roller transferring adhesive to the surface ofsaid second driven roller, and the surface of said second driven rollertransferring adhesive to said belt.

3 4 6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said ReferencesCited second driven roller has an absorbent surface. U I STATES PATENTS7. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said 1,755,109 4/1930Fortier 156 443 plate defines an end adjacent and an end remote from325,494 6/1966 Bloch at 156 583 XR said winding drum; means at saidadjacent end for fixing 5 3,263,280 8/1966 Gugt f o 19 145 3 said end ata desired spacing from said belt; means at said remote end for fixingsaid end at a desired spacing PHILIP DIER: Exammerfrom said belt,whereby adjustment of said latter means U S C1 X R enables determinationof the minimum spacing between 10 said belt and said plate. 118*249156446 580

